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5 EASY HIGH PROTEIN SNACKS
Getting enough protein in your diet can be tough. The most helpful advice we have is to make sure that each meal and snack you eat has an identifiable protein source included in it. Every recipe we create has the goal of making it easier for you to hit your protein and today we’re including some snack ideas that can help you hit that protein target.
8 MUST-HAVE TRADER JOE’S MACRO-FRIENDLY ITEMS FOR FLAVORFUL, HEALTHY MEALS
Focusing on making healthful nutrition changes does not have to equal making food taste boring: let’s put the idea of needing to eat boiled chicken breast and mushy vegetables in order to successfully pursue health goals to bed once and for all! On the contrary, by ensuring that we’re actually enjoying the health-promoting foods that we’re aiming to make staples in our diets, we’re far more likely to make change sustainable and, in turn, results retainable. Whether you’re looking to liven up your protein prep, make veggies more attractive to reach for or play around with new flavor profiles, here is a list of some of our favorite ways to insert flavor from Trader Joe’s.
MACRO-FRIENDLY RECIPE: CAJUN JAMBALAYA
Need a little spice in your life and an easy meal to add to your meal prep for next week? Look no further! This low-calorie cajun jambalaya recipe has you covered. With a generous portion size and easy to fit macros, you’ll want to eat it all week long!
REVERSE DIETING: MYTHS, FACTS, AND WHAT REALLY WORKS
Reverse dieting is the practice of increasing a person’s total daily caloric intake after a period of prolonged caloric restriction (aka a diet). Reverse dieting is all the rage on the internet, with social media promoting specific “Reverse Diet Coaches” and overly complicated reverse diet protocols to follow after time in a calorie deficit.
OUR FAVORITE MACRO-FRIENDLY RECIPE: BUFFALO CHICKEN BAKE
This recipe is one of our most popular, so we’re sharing it again in case you missed it the first time around. Whether you’re tracking macros or not, this recipe is a crowd-pleaser for it’s awesome flavor and generous portion size. It’s easy to throw together and is a healthy meal for the whole family.
DETOXING 101: WHAT YOUR BODY ACTUALLY NEEDS TO STAY HEALTHY
If you've spent any time in the wellness space, you've probably seen many bold claims about detoxes - from juice cleanses to special supplements, influencers and "detox specialists" promise that these methods will help flush toxins, boost metabolism, and even cure diseases. But do they actually work?
MACRO-FRIENDLY RECIPE: CREAMY CHICKEN TORTILLA SOUP
Even though you may be on your way to tackling your goals and your New Year’s resolutions of improving your eating habits, that doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice flavor - and it certainly doesn’t mean that you have to give up hearty meals altogether. This recipe is one of our favorites! It’s an easy dump-into-the-crockpot, set it and forget it kind of meals, and it’s perfect for colder weather. We hope you enjoy it!
MANAGING APPETITE WHILE BREASTFEEDING: HOW TO NAVIGATE THE NEVER-ENDING HUNGER WHEN NURSING OR PUMPING
Breastfeeding is one of the most energy-demanding stages of life, let alone motherhood! If you've found yourself constantly hungry while nursing your little one, you're not alone – this increased appetite is both normal and necessary. Let's explore how to satisfy those intense hunger cues while ensuring you're getting the nutrients both you and your baby need.
MACRO-FRIENDLY RECIPE: SWEET POTATO TURKEY CHILI
My favorite part about fall weather is all the soup! Soup dinners are easy for a lazy chef like me and are my favorite way to prep food that will last throughout the week. This chunky sweet potato turkey chili is my favorite, because each serving is a generous size and packs in tons of lean protein and vegetables.
4-COURSE VALENTINE’S MEAL FOR 2: ASIAN STICKY CHICKEN WITH PINEAPPLE “FRIED RICE”
Feeling joy in what you eat is an important part of having a positive relationship with your food, as is enjoying a holiday meal or a date night that feels decadent. So, we created this delicious four-course meal in honor of Valentine’s Day so that you can enjoy a big meal in a way that aligns with your goals and helps you recognize that no food is good or bad.
MACRO-FRIENDLY ONE-PAN RECIPE: SWEET HARVEST HASH FOR WEEKLY MEAL PREP
How do you make an easy sheet-pan meal even better? You make it macro-friendly with seasonal squash and flavorful protein. Enjoy this simple sheet pan meal and learn how to switch up the ingredients to fit your specific nutrition goals.
PROTEIN BARS UNWRAPPED: WHAT TO LOOK FOR (AND WHAT TO AVOID) IN A MACRO-FRIENDLY PROTEIN BAR
Choosing the right “macro-friendly” protein bar can feel like spotting a snowflake in a blizzard—especially when marketing doesn't make it clear whether the product is actually a protein bar or more of a glorified candy bar. Protein bars can absolutely have a place in your daily intake, but it’s important to know what you’re really buying.
RECIPE: JUMBO BAKED OATMEAL MUFFINS
Instead of a casserole bake, you can use the same Baked Oatmeal recipe to make baked oatmeal muffins instead. The muffins are convenient because they’re already portioned for you and make for an easy grab and go meal or snack for the whole family.
CREATING A DOPAMINE MENU: AN EASY TOOL FOR WHEN MOTIVATION IS LOW
One part of our nutrition goals we often overlook is the inevitable fact that, at some point, our motivation will tank. When that happens, we often believe we have to rely on only willpower or wait until motivation comes back to feel “on track,” but the reality is that motivation will wane at times and, rather than waiting for it to reappear, this is a time when we can benefit from taking simple actions that help us rebuild momentum.
THE PERFECT FALL RECIPE: BAKED OATMEAL
This baked oatmeal is such a hearty and delicious way to start the day, especially with the crisp and cool mornings that are ahead. Unlike regular oatmeal, which has a porridge-like consistency, baked oatmeal is more like that of bread-pudding. It’s really easy to customize and it’s a great make-ahead recipe to add to your weekly rotation.
EASY SNACK RECIPE: HIGH PROTEIN PIZZA MUFFINS (GLUTEN FREE!)
This high-protein snack is something we always have baked and ready to eat at our house. My toddler loves it and I add one or two of these pizza muffins to my meal prep as a snack daily. The absolute best part: all this recipe requires is throwing all ingredients in a blender and then a muffin tin. Minimal dishes, some easy protein, and a snack that feels far more indulgent than it is!
MACRO-FRIENDLY RECIPE: RISONI/ORZO SUMMER SALAD
This plant-based dish is about as easy as it gets when it comes to throwing together a simple side. Enjoy this Risoni Summer Salad as a side to your bbq dinner, or double the portion and enjoy it with some shrimp or chicken for a full, high-volume meal.
6 COMMON MACRO TRACKING MISTAKES YOU MIGHT BE MAKING: TIPS FROM A NUTRITION COACH
Tracking your macros is a fantastic tool for understanding your food intake and making intentional choices that align with your goals. But let’s be honest—it’s not always straightforward. In time, you will be able to track macros like a pro. But mistakes happen, and that’s ok. We need to acknowledge they will be part of this experience. The goal is to learn from them and make small, sustainable improvements over time.
MACRO-FRIENDLY SMOOTHIE BOWL RECIPES
Are smoothie bowls good for you? They seem “healthy”, but are they a good food to add to your day or a fake-healthy fad? It depends! This week, we’re sharing some refreshing smoothie bowl recipes, and, more importantly, explaining why smoothie bowls are neither good nor bad, and may be helpful in supporting you and your goals.
HIGH PROTEIN COMFORT FOOD RECIPE: CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP
‘Tis the season for feeling both under the weather after a month or so of extra socializing and yearning for comforting foods, yet likely feeling a push from the temporal landmark that is the New Year as well. But who says comforting foods can’t also be goal-aligned? This chicken noodle soup recipe checks all the boxes when it comes to flavor, warmth, and nourishment and is sure to become a winter go-to to help boost your protein intake!
3 MACRO-FRIENDLY THANKSGIVING SIDE DISHES
Three super easy side dishes for you to bring along to any family or holiday dinner this season. They are lower-calorie options to traditional side dishes you may normally have at Thanksgiving dinner and are a great swap if you’re not crazy about the traditional casseroles and calorie-dense sides.
3 UNDERRATED TIPS FOR A FAT LOSS PHASE: IMPROVING ADHERENCE IN YOUR CALORIE DEFICIT EASIER
When it comes to pursuing a fat loss goal, we know there are two main necessities to successful fat loss: First, consistency in a calorie deficit. Second, adequate protein intake. These two necessities are our top priority, but they don’t encompass all of the strategies that help us make these actions possible. Today, I want to talk through three of the most underrated strategies that help us achieve that consistency and feel good during a calorie deficit so that our fat loss goals don’t come at the expense of our energy, workouts, recovery, or relationship with food.
MACRO-FRIENDLY BREAKFAST RECIPES
Your first meal sets the tone for your day. Rather than rushing out the door and having an unplanned donut at the office because you’re starving and don’t have a plan, invest an hour of your weekend to prepare these easy, macro-friendly recipes for the week!
WHY MINDSET MATTERS FOR YOUR NUTRITION GOALS
The rules of energy balance may seem simple on paper (with all “name brand” diets driven by hard and fast regulations operating under the same umbrella): calories in vs. calories out. Follow the guidelines, achieve results. However, without a foundational belief that we are capable of overcoming and learning from the challenges that are bound to arise in the process and are deserving of the outcomes we seek, we are bound to struggle with any real, sustainable change. A growth mindset is the key to unlocking our potential to reach any and all of our goals.
DINNER PARTY RECIPE: MUSTARD MAPLE SALMON
This mustard maple salmon sheet pan meal is pretty easy, even if you’re not a pro in the kitchen. Try it out next time you’re hosting - it’s a yummy, stress-free dinner for 4 that you can make in just about an hour! And best part? It still fits in with your nutrition goals!
TRACKING IS A TEMPORARY TOOL: HOW TO TRANSITION AWAY FROM TRACKING MACROS AND TO INTENTIONAL EATING
In the world of nutrition, tracking food intake can be a popular tool for building awareness of our eating habits and helping us to reach more specific goals (eating within a deficit, reaching a certain bare minimum for fiber intake, or even fueling for specific athletic-based performance). But what happens when we reach our goals? Do we continue tracking forever? The answer is absolutely not. Our goal isn’t to obsessively monitor every bite but to use tracking as a temporary tool to cultivate a deeper understanding of our relationship with food.
MACRO-FRIENDLY SMOOTHIE RECIPES
A smoothie: a good food to add to your day or a fake-healthy fad? It depends! This week we’re sharing some favorite smoothie recipes and, more importantly, explaining why smoothies are neither good nor bad and may be helpful in supporting you and your goals.
WHY 75 DAY HARD IS A HARD PASS FOR ME
75 Hard is a popular program that's come to the forefront the last few years promises rapid transformations, increased mental toughness, and life-changing results, but what it misses is how extreme approaches can be counterproductive to your long-term goals. The focus on rigidity, perfectionism, and punishing routines may offer short-term wins but lead to burnout, injury, or even regression. It can be counterintuitive to your overall well-being and can just be another attempted quick fix that keeps us stuck in the cycle of restriction, punishment, and believing that change comes only when we’re miserable and doing everything “perfectly.”
SOL FOOD CARNITAS
This macro-friendly carnitas recipe is a simple spin off of a traditional family recipe taken from the Sol Food Cookbook. These carnitas are easy to prepare and can be used in countless dishes throughout the week. Enjoy!
HOLIDAY NUTRITION MADE EASY: 3 ESSENTIAL TOOLS TO AVOID THE ‘ALL OR NOTHING’ MENTALITY
The holiday season often means packed calendars, filled with family gatherings, work parties, and festive get-togethers. Right now, we’re in the thick of it. But how do we approach these events without feeling either deprived or overly indulgent? How do we navigate our nutrition in a way that aligns with our goals instead of calling it quits and just “starting over in January?” Let’s talk about it…